API applauds House action on methane controls

The President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute (API), Jack Gerard, has issued a statement in praise of the House of Representatives announcement that it will seek to eliminate the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) methane controls.

According to the API, the BLM’s rules cover many of the same emission sources that are already regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Mr Gerard said: “The United States leads the world in the production and refining of oil and natural gas, as well as in the reduction of carbon emissions. BLM’s rule is technically flawed and redundant, and it could impede the technological innovations that have led to increased domestic use of cleaner-burning natural gas – the main reason US energy-related carbon emissions have fallen to levels not seen since the early 1990s.

“The rule’s unnecessary requirements could result in the shut-in of a number of currently producing wells, reducing revenues to the federal treasury and the supply of affordable energy for American consumers and businesses. Given the broad impacts to US oil and natural gas production on Indian and federal lands, the lack of authority by BLM to regulate air quality and the fact that US producers already are highly incented to capture methane for delivery to American consumers, it is appropriate for the Congress to use the CRA to disapprove this redundant and unnecessary regulation.

“We applaud the efforts to strengthen and rationalise US energy policies and stand ready to work with Congress and the new administration on a smarter, science-based regulatory approach to continue meeting America’s energy needs and expanding US global energy and environmental leadership.”